What is the typical path of a lightning strike?

What is the typical path of a lightning strike?

• A. From cloud to ground
• B. Path goes from source to grounded point
• C. From ground to source
• D. In a looping arc

Answer: (B)

Lightning is a discharge that seeks to balance a large electric potential difference between a charged region in a storm cloud and the Earth’s surface. The discharge starts at the charge source inside the cloud and travels toward a grounded point on the ground, forming a conducting path as air becomes ionized. That downward flow to the ground is why the path is described as going from the source to a grounded point. While bolts can curve, branch, or include a rapid return stroke along the same channel, the overall direction of the discharge is from the cloud toward the ground. The other descriptions either describe the direction incorrectly or focus on appearance rather than the actual flow of current.

Lightning is a discharge that seeks to balance a large electric potential difference between a charged region in a storm cloud and the Earth’s surface. The discharge starts at the charge source inside the cloud and travels toward a grounded point on the ground, forming a conducting path as air becomes ionized. That downward flow to the ground is why the path is described as going from the source to a grounded point. While bolts can curve, branch, or include a rapid return stroke along the same channel, the overall direction of the discharge is from the cloud toward the ground. The other descriptions either describe the direction incorrectly or focus on appearance rather than the actual flow of current.